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She got in my face, fangs bared, but I held my ground even though she was uttering my one true fear. That I really was their puppet. “They are weak and exposed. I would bring back the respect our kind deserves!”

“With a vampire like you as their only option…” Robin said as she entered the room with a wavering confidence. I could tell that this was probably the first time she ever stood up to Ana, and I was never more proud of her than in that moment. 

“Robin, you’re even worse than this joke of a princess. Soon you’ll both see. The world belongs to the strong and powerful.” 

With that, Ana sped from the room, but not before swinging her arm across the large bouquet of flowers on the coffee table and sending all the petals flying off their stems. Her laugh remained, echoing throughout the room for a few moments after she left.

“She has serious issues. What is her damn problem?” I asked Robin as she inspected the ruined bouquet of flowers.

“She was hoping you wouldn’t survive the change. To be honest, I was a little surprised you made it. Not because I didn’t think you were strong enough, but…” Robin looked at me then and smiled, as she viewed my new vampire body. “Look at you! Va-va-Voom!”

I laughed at her, but wasn’t going to let her change the subject. “But what?”

Robin rolled her eyes at me, “You don’t give up, do ya?”

“No,” I smiled at her. “I’ve been known to be rather persistent.”

“Your screams could be heard throughout the entire palace Claire. We’ve never heard anyone take the transformation so brutally,” Robin admitted as a look of sadness crept onto her face. “But look at you now! You’re tougher than anyone could have ever thought.”

I wasn’t sure how to take what Robin said. Should I have been proud that I was strong enough to survive? Or worried that something might have gone wrong to make the transformation worse than it should have been?

“Do you think something went wrong?” I asked Robin even though I was sure she probably didn’t know. The one vampire I should be asking that question was Robin’s mom, Mara.

“I don’t know. You look fine to me. My mom has done countless transformation ceremonies. I heard her talking to my dad and she said she hadn’t ever seen anything like it before. You’re okay now though, so don’t worry about it.”

“I’ll try.” I reluctantly gave up pressing her on the subject. “So what are you going to wear to this shindig?”

“Well… I was hoping my best friend would let me borrow one of her dresses,” Robin said as she eyed me mischievously, baring her fangs in a playful grin.

“Duh, Robin! Of course you can, but only if you help me decide what to wear. Evilyn said you needed to help make sure I’m prepared for tomorrow night.”

“Oh my gosh, Claire, I totally will! You will look so stunning I promise,” Robin jumped me with a hug, that didn’t take my breath away as it had before and flew into the closet with a wicked giggle.

I started to follow her and decided to test my speed ability. I steadied myself and took off at an incredibly fast run. It probably would have been better do the test somewhere with a bit more space. Stopping was a little difficult and I had to latch onto a handful of hanging blouses that tore quickly in my grasp.

I stood frozen for a moment while both Robin and I stared at the destroyed garments in my hand. Then we both broke out in hysterical laughter.

“You’ll get the hang of it, I promise. At least you just ruined some shirts. I knocked an antique vase over and it shattered everywhere. The look on Fox’s face was both hysterical and frightening. I wasn’t sure if he was going to start crying or rip my throat out.” Robin giggled at the memory.

“So, what color do you want to wear?” I asked as I joined her in looking through all the gowns in my closet. Every one of them was incredibly elaborate, made with the richest and softest of fabrics.

“I’m not sure, but you should wear this one,” Robin said as she held out a silky, low-cut, black dress.

I eyed the deep v-neck cut and shook my head, “It’s beautiful, but I doubt Evilyn would approve.”

“Are you kidding? Of course she would! She bought all these dresses.  Vampires don’t have the same… Well let’s just say they appreciate the human body.”

I hung the dress back up, not certain that I wanted it to be
the
dress I revealed myself to the region and the vampire community in. I didn’t mind something sexy, but I was really looking for something with a wow factor.

Robin and I spent the next few hours trying on dresses and jewelry. Discussing hairstyle options was even harder than choosing a dress, but we were certain we nailed down some semblance of a plan.

I chose the gown Robin would wear. It was a gorgeous, light blue, with a detailed fitted corset that was delicately embroidered in gold. The large skirt billowed below her waist and made her look like a fairy tale princess.

“Are you sure?” Robin asked me as she spun around in front of the mirror.

“Totally, that color looks amazing on you,” I said as I rummaged through the display of jewelry and found the perfect gold bracelet for Robin to wear.  “Here, put this on too.”

Robin quickly latched on the bracelet and posed in front of the mirror. “I think you should wear the cream dress.”

I looked at the two dresses I couldn’t decide between.  The cream dress didn’t have as large a skirt as Robin’s. It had an intricately embroidered bodice that gathered on the side of the hip and led down to a small train. It also had a beautiful, strapless, heart-cut neckline and I loved how tiny it made my waist look.

The other was an emerald green silk dress that clung to my body. It was simple with no frills. It too had a train, but much longer and I worried that I would trip, but the one shouldered neckline was gorgeous. The fabric was twisted into a tight, rope-like design and crossed between my shoulder blades to open up into a sparkling green train.

Robin saw me looking at the dress longingly, “I don’t think Dmitry likes green.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t hide it, Claire. I see how you look at him. I don’t blame you, he is gorgeous!” Robin teased as she carefully changed out of her gown. The fabric puddled gently as she placed it onto a chair.

“I don’t think of Dmitry like that,” I lied. I knew I was starting to develop feelings for Dmitry, but I could feel my heart being invisibly pulled in another direction I hadn’t discovered yet. I wanted to like Dmitry and I was undoubtedly attracted to him, but there was something missing.

“Whatever you say. All I know is that I want to dance with Drake. He is the son of vampire Duke Aldric from the east. He is so gorgeous, Claire, jet-black hair and a killer smile,” Robin swooned as she sighed aloud.

“Sounds like you’re in love,” I teased as I hung the cream gown back onto the rack and chose the emerald green. I looked through my jewelry and found a pair of large ruby earrings that hung like blood drops from sizable sparkling yellow diamonds. They were dramatic and probably flashy, but I didn’t plan on wearing any other jewelry so I thought they were perfect.

“I suppose we had better get some work done, otherwise the queen will have my head,” Robin slid her first finger across her throat and giggled while she stuck her tongue out.

“I take it this isn’t going to be just some fun party?”

“Well, for the most part, it is a celebration, but there are some formalities. Think of it as a coming out party. The king and queen are going to formally announce you as their princess and heir. Everyone will bow to acknowledge you and show their acceptance, and then on to the partying.”

“That’s it?”

“Pretty much. You actually don’t really have to do anything, except stand there. The king will make his announcement, everyone will bow and then you must bow to the king and queen.  Like this.” Robin slid her right foot behind her left and bent her knees as she lowered her body steadily to the ground.  “See? Easy.”

“Hmm… When Evilyn said she wanted you to prepare me, it sounded like there was more to it than that.”

“There are some things I can’t exactly prepare you for.”

“Like what?”

“Because you are the princess, there are certain customs you will have to follow. Once you are presented as the princess, the cameras will leave and another announcement will be made for vampire ears only.”

My interest perked up as Robin started to whisper as though someone were listening in on our conversation. We exited my closet and sat atop my bed with Louie curled up nearby. “What sort of customs?” I asked.

“Blood Mates,” Robin said mechanically.

“What are Blood Mates?” I had never heard of such a thing and wasn’t quite sure I liked the sound of it.

“It is a highly secretive practice followed by very old or very important vampires. I honestly think many only do it as a tradition to gain status, but obviously, my opinion doesn’t matter.”

“Robin, what is it?” I could feel myself thirsting for the information as if knowledge of vampire secrets were as delicious as warm blood trickling down my throat. 

At the thought of blood, I could feel my mouth watering and I slid my tongue across my fangs and then over my lips. Robin paused and stared at my fangs in almost perfectly frozen shock. “I still can’t believe how long your fangs are, Claire.”

“Please don’t look at me like I’m some kind of science experiment. It’s probably just because… Well, I don’t know why it is, but is it really that big of a deal?”

Robin shook her head and I felt a little guilty for snapping at her. I realized that I probably sounded a lot like Ana. So, I quickly changed the subject to the most prominent thought in my mind. “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” Robin admitted, her smile returning. “I know you must be. I was hungry all the time when I first turned.”

“Great. So, how do we get something to eat around here? Just go to the kitchen and ask Bruno to whip us up a couple blood smoothies, O Negative style?” I joked with her to lighten the mood again.

“I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” Dmitry said from the doorway to my room. He was leaning against the frame and looking as swoon-worthy as I could have ever imagined, but that wasn’t what took my breath away.

It was the sight of Luka standing beside him. He had the same irritated look permanently frozen onto his face. It was the only expression I had ever seen him wear and he looked at Robin and me like we were insects.

I imagined we both looked quite casual, each of us dressed in sweat pants and tank tops, but I always thought guys were attracted to non-high maintenance types. However, when it came to Luka, I was obviously wrong! Especially when I considered Ana. She had probably never even held a pair of sweat pants or a t-shirt, for that matter.

“I see you haven’t stopped your habit of sneaking up on people?” I replied to Dmitry and he smiled as he strolled into the room.

“Like I told you before Claire, I don’t sneak. Luka and I just heard the news that you had quite an interesting transformation and we wanted to see it for ourselves.”

“Oh great! Show and tell,” I complained, but Dmitry ignored it as he always did and walked toward me with unwavering confidence. Luka followed, but kept his distance, like someone who was trying to avoid catching the flu from a sick person.

I watched as Dmitry scrutinized me with expert precision. Normally, having a person study my body would have made me feel self-conscious, but when Dmitry did it, I felt important. Like every inch of me was fascinating to him.

“My, my,” Dmitry’s breath brushed across my skin as he leaned in closer to inspect my new fangs. His finger delicately lifted my upper lip and when his silky skin touched the sensitive part of my mouth, it made my body tingle. I used every ounce of self-control to keep from kissing him at that very moment.

I could feel the heat building between us as Dmitry released my lip and we locked eyes for the briefest of moments; although in intensity, it felt like it lasted an eternity.

“I guess it’s true then. What do you think, Luka?” Dmitry asked as he turned toward his brother and broke our connection.

Luka heaved a heavy sigh and stared at me for moment. His power was equal to that of Dmitry, but the feeling it evoked was quite the opposite - hatred and anger. The emotions were so strong, that I was starting to feel them myself. Without even realizing it, I was tapping into Luka’s feelings and when he sensed the connection, his eyes widened in shock.

“Like to snoop around, don’t ya, you little minx? You think you can just stroll into the palace and take control of everything like you’re worthy of it?”

“Excuse me?” I was a little shocked by Luka’s reaction. I knew he didn’t like me, but the venom lacing his voice was brutal.

“Stay the hell out of my head, you little bitch,” Luka spat back at me as Ana sped into the room and flashed to his side. An evil grin was plastered onto her perfectly painted face. Her long, blonde hair, twisted in loose curls still bounced around from the drama of her entrance.

Luka looked down at her and his face completely changed. It was total love and adoration as they gazed at each other, but when they looked back at me, their scathing abhorrence returned.

“I told you didn’t I Luka?” Ana asked as she sneered at me.

“She seems to think she is going to be top vampire around here,” Luka said with a snobbish tone that marred his beautiful face, suddenly making it appear incredibly ugly.

“I am going to be top vampire around here!” I announced as I stood up and bared my fangs. It felt completely natural to do it and I couldn’t recall consciously thinking about it; my body did it instinctively.

“Everyone, calm down,” Dmitry said as he jumped in front of me.

I didn’t want to calm down, but when his hand grabbed mine it was impossible not to feel my anger slowly melting away.

“What the hell are you doing, Dmitry? You are really going to take her side? This pathetic little excuse for a vampire? They just found her on the streets like a stray dog!” Ana shouted.

“Someday, she will be queen, Ana, and she will be queen for a very long time. Do you really want her to remember you having said that?” Dmitry replied.

“Oh yes, queen indeed.  Such a powerful queen that she must hide behind you?” Luka snarled as he eyed Dmitry and Robin who were now standing protectively at my side. Her arm was wrapped around my waist and I realized it wasn’t for comfort, but poised to yank me out of the situation if circumstances demanded it.

Robin looked angelic and sweet, but she was a vampire and had been for far longer than I. I saw then how very deadly Robin could be even when up against the two vampires she was most afraid of.

“I am not hiding, and they are not my puppets! They are my friends or have you never heard of such a thing before?”

Ana giggled softly and turned toward Luka. She rested her hand on his chest and he looked down at her, both of them smiling with sinister glee. “They’re friends, Luka. Isn’t that precious?” Ana turned and flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. Her dark eyes looked abnormally large she outlined them in thick, dark makeup. “Your own brother is going to make friends with the very stray that stole the throne out from under us. What a shame.”

“Ana, you’re being ridiculous!” Dmitry replied, his tone sounding more like pleading than the defensive edge it had before.

“Am I? Luka, do you think I’m being ridiculous?”

“No,” Luka replied and he shifted his deadly stare from me to Dmitry, which only infuriated me further. A strong desire to protect Dmitry boiled inside me and a growl started to rumble in my chest. It was initially an alien sensation, yet it felt completely natural and I reveled in it. I whipped my hand around the front of Dmitry and pushed him behind me.

Surprisingly, he moved quite easily and I wasn’t sure if it was because of my strength or because he was letting me take control, which I very much doubted.  “She is the rightful heir, Luka, and you know it. Nicolae chose her and we must obey his wishes.”

“Poor Dmitry, always the loyal slave.” Ana smiled and widened her blood-red lips to reveal her fangs. She kissed Luka then and they embraced in an almost erotic way as they held each other intimately.

“Get a room!” Robin shouted from behind me, nearly startling me. Ana and Luka laughed aloud and then sped out of the room, slamming the door behind them with a thunderous sound, sending numerous framed wall pictures tumbling to the floor in their wake.

I fell into the nearest seat and couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened. Their vitriol at my being princess was far greater than I had previously thought. I had the impression that they were simply jealous, but now it seemed that they had a vendetta against me.

“Are you okay?” Dmitry asked as he dropped to one knee at my side, like a gallant knight. His abysmal eyes searched my face for an answer.

“We need to keep an eye on them tomorrow night,” Robin said as she hung the pictures back onto the wall.

“They aren’t going to do anything. They are just trying to rattle her up, so she messes up at the coronation,” Dmitry stated.

“Are you kidding?” Robin said, looking exasperated. “Did you see the look on Ana’s face? She has it in for Claire.” Robin pointed at me and I just shook my head.

“Dmitry’s right. They won’t touch me and even if they did, imagine the hell that would rain down on them.” I wasn’t quite sure if hell would really rain down on them, but I certainly hoped it would. I was a princess now; that had to come with some kind of protection.

“Claire’s right. Luka has been my brother for a very long time. I know he won’t hurt her,” Dmitry said. He started to appear more relaxed as he took a seat on the sofa.

“You two are delusional. Luka might not hurt her, but he’ll do anything that bitch, Ana says, and you know it,” Robin complained as she folded her arms in a childish fashion. A painful expression accompanied her words and I wondered if something had happened to her in the past.

“What would you have her do?” Dmitry asked, sounding annoyed as he clenched his hands and started cracking his knuckles.

“Tell the king. He will make sure they never bother Claire again.” Robin rushed to my side and grabbed my hand in a pleading manner. “He will always protect you. Tell him what happened.”

I slowly pulled my hand away as my mouth fell open in shock at Robin’s words. I knew she didn’t like Luka and Ana, and I knew that she was afraid of them as well, but I wasn’t going to be a nark. “Robin that will only make matters worse. The best way to handle a situation like this is to deal with it one-on-one.”

Robin pulled away and moved deeper into the sofa, looking thoroughly disappointed. “You haven’t seen what they are capable of.”

“What exactly are they capable of, Robin?” Dmitry asked as he rose out of his seat in a sudden flourish of anger.

Robin obviously had no hesitation in standing up against Dmitry and rose up to meet his steady gaze with her own. “You’re sight is clouded by your love for your brother.”

As Robin and Dmitry stood staring into each other’s eyes, I watched the muscles clench in Dmitry’s jaw. I grew focused on him, and I could feel my body connecting to his. The emotions he was feeling were swirling around me like a warm summer breeze. Her words wounded him and he was not only greatly insulted, but incredibly angry. Judging by Robin’s smug expression, I could tell she knew it.

I knew I had to do something to stop this before it got any worse. It was more than enough to handle Luka and Ana biting at my heels; I didn’t need my only friends to be at war as well.

Doing the only thing that I was certain would break the battle of psyches between them, I jumped to Dmitry’s side and wrapped my fingers in his and squeezed. His jaw instantly relaxed and he broke his stare with Robin and looked at me.  I saw the muscles in his face relax and felt the warmth of his anger dissipate from around us as another feeling tickled my flesh, and hugging our bodies as we stared into each other eyes. 

It was an incredible feeling to lock eyes with a vampire in such a way. It was a strong feeling of intimacy that coursed through my body, like warm electricity that set every nerve and sensation afire with desire although the only parts of us that were touching were our hands. I had never been with a guy before, but if it felt anything like this, waiting until I was married was going to be a much greater struggle than I could ever imagine.

The sound of Robin groaning with annoyance broke the spell between Dmitry and me. Our hands released, but the connective spark between us still lingered and very slowly drifted away, like the fleeting fragrance of a beautiful bouquet.